Nothing much...

Nothing much to report on....just trying to keep up with my goal of posting more this year! :)  

I went to a career transition seminar this week.  Contrary to what I expected, it was very helpful.  I still don't know exactly what jobs I want to search for, but at least my resume is ready to go!  The kids have four days left of day care.  I feel so badly for taking them away from that place.  They've gotten very comfortable there and have learned so much!  Hopefully the next place will be just as great.  

Brian is having some good things happen at his work - - he's going to be doing inventory starting next week!  It's a great shift change for him - - he'll be working 5am-1:30pm for two months, then his regular shift of 10:30am-7pm for a month, then back to the early for two...etc.  It will REALLY be nice to have him home in the afternoons while I am still at home job hunting!!  I was having concerns about being at home with the kids all day by myself, so this will help tremendously!

That's about all I have to report for now!  I hope you are all well and employed. :)  hee hee.

~Jill

2009 is not my year....or is it?

Well, 2009 has not had the best start so far for me.  My company just had a pretty massive lay-off this morning and I (along with several friends) lost my job. :(  I didn't love the job and definitely hated the commute, so it's not the end of the world, but the loss in income will definitely hurt.  So if anyone knows of a good job opening up, let me know! :)

On the plus side, as previously mentioned, I did not like the job or the commute.  If things work out money-wise, I think I would like to take some time to be at home with the kids, get my house in order, and really think about what it is that I want to do "when I grow up."  This time off will allow me to do a lot of thinking and praying.  I'm giving this problem to God and hope that He soon tells me what I should be doing with my life.  

So I guess I just need to be patient and wait and see what is in store for me next!  I'm off to start the laundry! :)  

Jill

p.s. I guess this time off will also allow me to work on my resolution of keeping more up to date with my blog!  (gotta find the positives, no matter how small....) :)

Happy 2009!

Hi All,

As you already are aware, I am HORRIBLE at keeping this blog updated.  (Mer and Laur, you make me look bad - I'm so jealous of how on top of this thing you are!) :)  I wasn't going to make any new year's resolutions, but I've thought of a few and if I post them here, maybe you'll all hold me accountable!

1. Don't sweat the small stuff (taken from Mer's list - great idea and I SO need to work on this!).

2. Pray more.

3. Get rid of the clutter in my home so I am less stressed.

4. Focus on the important things in life - my kids, my husband, our faith, our wonderful families and amazing friends.

5. Have more fun, be more goofy with the kids, and don't take myself so seriously.

6. Post on my blog more often!!!

I hope you all had wonderful Christmases.  We had 7 in 6 days (yes, I said SEVEN!!!) and although we were exhausted after our "Christmas Marathon," we had a great time and were fortunate enough to be able to spend time with nearly everyone in our extended families!  

Have a fantastic 2009.  

love, Jill (& fam.)

Christmas is almost here!

I cannot BELIEVE that Christmas is almost here!  Poor Jack got the flu yesterday so I am home with him today.  He's been sleeping most of the day away, so I have had time to finally wrap Christmas gifts!  (almost done....just have the kids left!)  It will be nice to have all of those wrapped.  Now if I could only finish up the rest of my handmade gifts....UGH!  Running out of time!!!

We took our Christmas pictures on Sunday.  Sadly, I did not have time to make my own cards this year, so I'm finally biting the bullet and joining the rest of the world with picture-cards. :)  These shots are a couple of our many attempts to get a good picture - - the kids were not always very cooperative.  I loved the one of the kids together, so you'll be seeing that one soon in the mail! (that is, IF I get around to finishing up address labels and buying stamps!)  Yikes - next year I am going to start all this work in August.  (SOOO not kidding!)   I guess this is what one can expect when one's family attends 7 Christmases in 6 days every year.  AHH!  It will be crazy, but it's always a fun time.  

Merry Christmas to everyone!  Enjoy your time with family and friends!!

Halloween

Kate and Jack got to go trick or treating for the first time ever this year.  Kate was a pro by the end, but Jack refused to put on his costume.  We just walked along with him in the stroller and followed Kate as she pointed out which houses had the lights on and were ok to go to. :)  Such a big girl...  We did try the costumes on the kids about a week or two before Halloween b/c Brian needed them for work, so we have a few of Jack in his little monkey costume, at least.  I think Kate is already thinking about what she can be next year and how much candy she will get!  

Joe's Wedding

OK, OK....I'm a tad behind on my blogging.  Sorry!!  

My brother, Joel, got married on Oct 25th.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful and everything was so perfect.  We had such a great time - - Kate ACTUALLY made it down the aisle!  She and her new cousin Ashton were so adorable.  I don't have many pictures, unfortunately, but here are a few from the reception and dance.  Sorry - a couple are sideways!  I'm too tired to go back and fix them. :(  I was at Laurie's house last night making Christmas gifts until 1:45am!!  (we had soooo much fun!)  Hope all is well with everyone!

September 21, 2008

Hello - sorry it's been so long since my last post!  It's harder than I expected to keep this thing going!  Let's see....what's happened recently...?

I guess the biggest thing would be that I turned the big 3-0 on Sept. 2nd.  Brian (with the help of my Mom and Christi) threw me a big surprise party over Labor Day weekend.  It was a blast.  I am still impressed that he pulled off the surprise - I'm typically very good at picking up on secrets.  This time I had no clue.  It was a wine and cheese party and everyone brought a bottle of wine and a block of cheese to share.  I had so much fun - what a great husband, huh!?  It definitely made turning 30 a lot easier for me!  On Sunday of Labor Day weekend we took an hour long 4-wheeler ride through the woods.  Dad lead, followed by Josh Larson and his girlfriend Abby, Me and Brian, and then Joel and Ashley.  It was really neat and we had a great time.  I haven't done that in ages!  Also, I had my first-ever golf outing that weekend.  (yeah, I know - about time, huh?)  Jon, Brian, Christi and I went golfing in Renville and had a blast.  I only golfed a couple holes, but still had a great time.

This past weekend Brian and I sent the kids to Grandma and Grandpa's (Surine) for the weekend and cleaned the garage.  I know it doesn't sound exciting, but it is SOOO nice to finally be able to find everything we need!  There are a few finishing touches (because you KNOW that I will type up all the labels for everything - self declared nerd that I am), but it's pretty much done.  Last weekend I actually cleaned my entire scrap booking closet too!  I thought I should give Jack at least a small amount of space for hanging clothes, being I have 99% taken over his closet. :)  He doesn't seem to mind.

The kids are doing well - Jack is saying more and more every day it seems.  Kate is too smart for her own good.  You should hear some of the vocab that comes out of that girl's mouth - it floors me sometimes how much she already knows!  She's enrolling in round 2 of a tumbling class at day care and is very excited for her first class this Thursday.  

Just to make it more fun, here are a couple of pictures of the kids being silly.  Hope all is well with everyone!

love, Jill